Ancestor Statue From Bete, Ivory Coast

Origin: Ivory Coast. Tribe Name: Bébé. Material: Wood Dimensions: 60 cm Shipping method: Colissimo
This magnificent dark wood African art statue (Bété style or related ethnic groups of Ivory Coast) features remarkable aesthetic and iconographic characteristics.​## Main Characteristics​Posture and Proportions: The statue is depicted standing, in a frontal and solemn pose, mounted on a modern pedestal. The body is distinguished by a pronounced geometric stylization, with a long, cylindrical neck and a narrow torso.​Headdress and face: She wears a tall, domed headdress striated with fine vertical lines, encircled by a headband adorned with relief motifs. The face is oval, with refined yet expressive features, including a straight nose, almond-shaped eyes, and a subtle mouth.​Ornaments and scarifications:​The torso is magnificently decorated with geometric diamond-shaped (or rhomboidal) motifs aligned vertically across the abdomen.​The breasts are prominent, conical, and pointed—characteristic of a stylized female representation.​The hands are open, facing forward, with palms clearly incised with horizontal lines representing the fingers or phalanges.​Lower Body: The hips are wide and rounded, contrasting with the slenderness of the torso, and extend into short legs with pronounced knees, resting on broad feet with carefully carved toes.​Style and Context​Sculptures from this region of West Africa are often characterized by a raw sculptural power, a meticulous polish that gives the weathered wood a dark, satiny sheen, and symbolism related to fertility, ancestors, or spiritual protection.